House of Lords: New Peers

Lord Campbell-Savours Excerpts

Thursday 10th October 2013 Lords Chamber

[The Chairman of Committees]

I am being tempted again to comment on policy issues and I am reluctant to do so. Of course, the actual size and composition of the list is a matter for the public record and people can see the party composition of the present list.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

My Lords, will the Chairman of Committees confirm that savings through the freeze on staff salaries that has gone on for several years, savings on the freeze on existing Members’ expenses, high catering prices, cuts in House of Lords publications and other savings that are being made are being used to fund the new membership coming into the House?

[The Chairman of Committees]

Not really. Two things have to be borne in mind; namely, the budget and what has been referred to as the savings target. In December 2010, the House adopted the policy that:

“We will aim not to increase our resource costs, in real terms”—

compared with 2010-11—

“throughout the period of the plan”,

which is to 2015,

“despite the increased size of the House”.

That decision was made in December 2010. In July this year, that policy was quite significantly modified to read:

“To make best use of … financial resources we will … Adhere to the savings target of not increasing the resource budget in real terms (compared with 2010/11)—

and here is the new bit—

“subject to the need to maintain the ability of the House and its Members to carry out their parliamentary functions in changing circumstances, including increased attendance”.

That is a clear commitment to ensure that in future when budgets are being constructed overriding concern is given to the maintenance of the House’s functions and the activities of Members.